Westchester elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP will address the growing problem of elder abuse in an April 6 presentation to the New York Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. With millions of baby boomers coming of age, Mr. Enea emphasizes the importance of educating the public on how to identify, report and prevent elder abuse.
According to a 2010 New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study, one in thirteen older adults in New York experienced elder mistreatment. The study further found that for every case reported, 24 were unreported.
“There are a number of signs to look for when elder mistreatment, either abuse or neglect, is suspected,” said Mr. Enea. “It is important to identify diminished mental capacity and changes in patterns of financial behavior. For attorneys and financial professionals, creating an internal system of checks and balances for elderly clients is essential to assess capacity and prevent financial abuse.”
The New York Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals marks the latest speaking engagement for Mr. Enea, who has spent nearly three decades protecting the rights of seniors, the disabled and their families.
Named Westchester County’s Leading Elder Care Attorney at the Above the Bar Awards, Mr. Enea is the past chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section. His practice areas include elder law; Medicaid asset protection trusts; Medicaid applications (home care and nursing home); special needs planning; guardianships (Article 81 and 17-A); and wills, trusts and estates. Mr. Enea was named Best Lawyers’ 2016 Elder Law “Lawyer of the Year” in White Plains, a Top 25 “Super Lawyer” in Westchester County, and is currently president of the Westchester County Bar Foundation.